Carl Crawford slid into second base, tying a modern major league record with six stolen bases. The crowd of 32,332 roared, and the Tampa Bay Rays immediately flashed a message on the scoreboard acknowledging the feat.

This just in. No Yankees, no Red Sox. But apparently major league baseball intends to continue on with the postseason, anyway. The league championships have begun and there is not an Ortiz or Jeter in sight.

Tampa Bay All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford agreed Friday to a $15.25 million, four-year contract that could be worth up to $32.5 million over six seasons. The two-rime AL stolen base champion, who is 23, gets a $500,000 signing bonus, $500,000 this year.

Holy cow, what were some of these baseball writers waiting for anyway, the ghost of Harry Caray to rattle their brains? The criteria for admission to the Hall of Fame always seems murky, which is always what makes the debate so fun and, yes, so maddening, USA TODAY's Jon Saraceno writes. Unfortunately, players of Ryne Sandberg's caliber often are forced to lie on a bed of baseball nails awaiting justice and a bronze plaque.